Step one, get rid of the money. You want to host something? Use your own computer and eat the cost. Do not run ads to “offset expenses.” If they fall short you’ll make them worse and they’ll still disappoint you. If you manage to profit then that’s what the project becomes about.
Step two, get rid of the Nazis. Your forum does not need iron-clad rules demanding nobody ever swear at anyone else. You do not need to litigate reasons someone is no longer welcome, or gets a month-long time out to consider other hobbies. You know good and goddamn well when one rando is casually sassing another for spouting off some nonsense, and when some bastard troll is seriously and correctly being told where to shove it. If you don’t trust yourself to make that distinction, nine times out of ten, in a matter of seconds - do not run a forum. The trolls will woo you and take over before you know what’s going on.
Step one, get rid of the money. You want to host something? Use your own computer and eat the cost. Do not run ads to “offset expenses.” If they fall short you’ll make them worse and they’ll still disappoint you. If you manage to profit then that’s what the project becomes about.
Step two, get rid of the Nazis. Your forum does not need iron-clad rules demanding nobody ever swear at anyone else. You do not need to litigate reasons someone is no longer welcome, or gets a month-long time out to consider other hobbies. You know good and goddamn well when one rando is casually sassing another for spouting off some nonsense, and when some bastard troll is seriously and correctly being told where to shove it. If you don’t trust yourself to make that distinction, nine times out of ten, in a matter of seconds - do not run a forum. The trolls will woo you and take over before you know what’s going on.